Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
  • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
  • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
  • C07K14/4727—Mucins, e.g. human intestinal mucin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N59/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
  • A61K8/30—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds
  • A61K8/64—Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0043—Nose
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0048—Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/0005—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for pharmaceuticals, biologicals or living parts
  • A61L2/0082—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for pharmaceuticals, biologicals or living parts using chemical substances
  • A61L2/0088—Liquid substances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
  • A61L2/18—Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61Q—SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS
  • A61Q11/00—Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides

Definitions

• the present invention relates to sterilized, preserved stable mucine-containing compositions and methods for their preparation.
• compositions of the present invention which are in particular aqueous solutions (colloid solutions), utilize unique advantageous properties of mucines, especially particular kinds of mucines described below, and relate to sterilized solutions of mucine, in particular for a number of applications where the special nature of glycoproteins-together with the fact that glycoproteins constitute natural products which are extracted from animals and which, with respect to their properties, are closely related to the properties of the glycoprotein solutions secreted in the human system-has been found to be particularly beneficial.
• the solutions of the invention are, in particular, adapted for oral or nasal administration to human beings, or for closely related applications, such as for use as ophthalmic solutions.
• the solutions should be sterilized and should contain a preservative so that they will maintain sterility even when exposed to a certain contamination during storage and application.
• the invention relates to aqueous mucine-containing compositions, in particular for application to human mucous membranes and/or for use as an ophthalmic solution, comprising a non-human mammalian mucine-containing composition, for repeated application to human mucous membranes, in particular in the oral cavities or the nasal system, and/or for use as an ophthalmic solution, comprising a non-human mammalian mucine selected from the group consisting of buccal and gastrointestinal mucines, the composition having a viscosity of at the most 50 relative to water, as measured with an Oswald viscosimeter, said composition being sterilized and containing hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing bactericide preservative which is present in a physiologically tolerable concentration with respect to the application of the composition, and the bacterial count of the composition remaining substantially constant for a period of at least one year when the composition is kept in a closed container at room temperature or when the composition is kept at 4°C in a container from which a portion of the solution
• the reasons for mouth dryness may be physiological (age, menopause, postoperative conditions, dehydration), psychic (nervousness), pharmacological (anticolinergica, antihista- minica, anti-hypertensiva, sedativa and neuro- leptica) and radiotherapeutic (after irradiation of tumours on head and neck). Especially irradiation drastically reduces the normal saliva secretion.
• salivary secretion varies between 1000 and 1500 ml in the course of 24 hours.
• This secretion is a mixture of secretions from the submandibular, sublingual, and parotidal glands. More than 98% of the mixed salivary secretion is water, 0-3% is constituted by organic substances, and about 0.25% are inorganic substances.
• the thiocyanate constitutes part of an anti- bacterial system together with lactoperoxidase (an enzyme which is also present in salivary secretion) and hydrogen peroxide which is formed in small amounts in some of the bacteria of the mouth.
• lactoperoxidase an enzyme which is also present in salivary secretion
• hydrogen peroxide which is formed in small amounts in some of the bacteria of the mouth.
• thiocyanate is converted into a bacteriostatically active substance (hypothiocyanite). This oxidation process is catalyzed by lactoperoxidase, but proceeds slowly even without the presence of this enzyme.
• the mucine in the salivary secretion possesses several important properties which are essential to the properties of the saliva. Some of the most important properties of the mucine are as follows:
• the mucine makes the saliva sufficiently viscous to remain on the mucous membranes, and to move slowly on the mucous membranes and act as a carrier for other substances.
• the mucine has surfactant effect and, hence, reduces the surface tension of the saliva to considerably below the surface tension of water, which contributes to make the saliva "foam” and act as an emulsifier for the food intake, to enable the saliva to distribute evenly over dry mucous membranes, and to mix freely with saliva already present.
• the ideal saliva composition should have physical and clinical properties which are as close to the properties of the mixed natural salivary secretion as possible. In contrast to the natural saliva in the mouth, it should be stable when stored and applied in liquid form.
• the ideal artificial saliva should be based on intake of only 25-50 ml per day in a more concentrated form, but on the other hand combined with the intake of a relatively larger amount of water during the day, especially during meals and before sleeping.
• the ideal artificial saliva composition should be inhibitory to bacterial growth to such an extent that it can be used in refill systems, e.g., for storage during a longer period in a 1/2 liter bottle from which portions of the composition are withdrawn under non-sterile conditions at intervals and are transferred to a more handy container, e.g., a 25 ml vial, such as a plastic container, which may easily be kept in a pocket or small bag, and from which suitable portions can be taken by suctioning or sucking.
• a more handy container e.g., a 25 ml vial, such as a plastic container, which may easily be kept in a pocket or small bag, and from which suitable portions can be taken by suctioning or sucking.
• the most used known artificial saliva compositions are based on carboxymethylcellulose as the medium which imparts, to the saliva composition, its lubricating effect and the necessary viscosity.
• carboxymethylcellulose as the medium which imparts, to the saliva composition, its lubricating effect and the necessary viscosity.
• Such a composition is described by J. Matzker in Z. Laryng. Rhinol. 51, 422-428 (1972) and contains 10 g of carboxymethylcellulose per liter, 30 g of sorbitol per liter, and small amounts of dissolved salts (potassium chloride, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium hydrogen phosphate, and potassium thiocyanate).
• composition of this known artificial saliva is close to the composition of natural unstimulated saliva, apart from the essential components constituted by carboxymethylcellulose and sorbitol which have been added to impart lubricating and viscous properties to the saliva.
• carboxymethylcellulose which comprises a different molecular structure from the molecules of the mucoproteins occurring in natural saliva, results in a high viscosity of the artificial saliva and a relatively high surface tension which by no means approaches the low surface tension of the natural saliva.
• carboxymethylcellulose which comprises a different molecular structure from the molecules of the mucoproteins occurring in natural saliva
• the surface tension of compositions containing 1% by weight of carboxymethylcellulose together with 3% by weight of sorbitol is in the range of 60-65 dyn.cm whereas the surface tension of natural saliva is in the range of 48-53 dyn.cm.
• the preservatives used therein differ very much from substances normally occurring in the saliva and hence may irritate the oral mucous membranes, in particular when their concentration increases with evaporation of the water of the composition.
• the preservatives used in known artificial saliva compositions even the above-mentioned methyl p-hydroxybenzoate which is most widely used for this purpose, has an unpleasant taste in high concentrations.
• the artificial saliva compositions used for the experiments were prepared by dissolving 100 mg of lyophilized bovine salivary mucine extract in 10 ml of water. None of the solutions were used for more than 2 days at room temperature. Although the bacterial count for the artificial saliva composition has been low immediately after its preparation, there is no doubt that a longer term storage thereof at room temperature or in a refrigerator would result in a considerable increase in the bacterial count. Furthermore, it was not easy to obtain a sufficiently homogeneous solution of the mucine, as an ordinary stirring into water by the user is relatively time- consuming and yields a varying result. A nonhomogeneous solution, when taken, can result in varying deposits of the mucine on the mucous membrane, which is inexpedient.
• the present invention provides an artificial saliva composition, and, in a broader sense, a composition for oral administration to human beings, which is not associated with any of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and which conforms to the characteristics of an ideal artificial saliva composition.
• composition of the invention containing a non-human mammalian mucine selected from the group consisting of buccal and gastrointestinal mucines has a low bacterial count obtained by sterilization and by means of a preservative incorporated in the composition.
• the composition of the invention is preferably substantially free from any mucine-decomposing enzymatic activity.
• the composition Due to the low bacterial count (usually as low as at the most 10 bacteria per gram of the composition), the composition will, in practice, be free from any bacterial degradation or contamination. Due to the freedom from any mucine-decomposing enzymatic activity, the composition will be substantially free from any enzymatic degradation of the mucine.
• the term "buccal and gastrointestinal mucines” is intended to designate any mucine which is present in the oral cavity or in the gastrointestinal system. Typical examples are mucines from salivary glands and gastric mucines.
• a low bacterical count, typically of at the most 10 per gram, in the composition of the invention is obtained by means of a preservative.
• the preservative is hydrogen peroxide.
• the obtainment of sterility by means of a preservative in accordance with the present invention is a very important feature characterizing the process and the product of the invention.
• composition of the invention contains a preservative, in order to secure that it will remain free of bacterial growth even if it is not stored and handled under sterile conditions.
• composition of the invention is treated and/or admixed with preservative to such an extent that its bacterial count remains substantially constant for a period of at least one year when the composition is kept in a closed container at room temperature, or more preferably, to such an extent that the bacterial count of the composition remains substantially constant when the composition is kept at 4°C for a period of two months with occasional withdrawal of a portion of the composition, typically daily withdrawal of a portion of the composition.
• the viscosity of the composition when it is an aqueous solution, should preferably be stable to such an extent that it does not decrease to below 2, relative to water. This is obtained when any mucine-decomposing enzymatic activity has been substantially removed from the composition, and any preservative or preservatives present, and the concentration thereof, are suitably selected.
• an ideal preservative for the obtainment of the above-mentioned critical stability properties is an oxidizing bactericide, hydrogen peroxide.
• Hydrogen peroxide serves both as a means to eliminate mucine-decomposing enzymatic activity, and as an efficient microbiocidal agent.
• Hydrogen peroxide not only serves as a preservative to keep the composition free from microbial growth when the composition is exposed to bacterial and fungal contamination, but will also impart a most desirable "freshness" to the composition.
• hydrogen peroxide will contribute to the natural bacterial and fungal balance of the oral cavity, since hydrogen peroxide plays an important role in this regard under the normal conditions prevailing in natural saliva secretion conditions.
• hydrogen peroxide is selected over other microbiocidal preservatives which can be administered to the oral cavity of human beings but which have an unpleasant taste in the necessary concentrations thereof, such as chlorohexidine and methyl p-oxybenzoate.
• the hydrogen perpoxide is preferably present in the composition in a concentration of about 0.01-70 millimol per liter, such as 0.1-70 millimol per liter, in particular 0.05-20 millimol per liter, such as 0.5-10 millimol per liter.
• a typical initial concentration is about 10 millimol per liter.
• Hydrogen peroxide is active in extremely small concentrations. Thus, remarkable anti-bacterial and anti-fungus effects have been noted in the compositions of the present invention even long time after the concentration of oxidizing bactericide has decreased, during storage, to nearly zero.
• the hydrogen peroxide concentration will, after a few weeks, drop to about 300 ppm, after half a year to 50 ⁇ 100 ppm, and after one year, the concentration will be only slightly above zero. With ozone, the concentration will decrease more rapidly, from, e.g., 1 mg/liter to close to zero in a few hours.
• the composition of the invention also contains other constituents which may serve to substitute saliva constituents, such as ion species found in human saliva, typically one or several ions selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, bicarbonate, and thiocyanate.
• saliva constituents such as ion species found in human saliva, typically one or several ions selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, bicarbonate, and thiocyanate.
• the composition contains a thiocyanate, typically in a concentration of from 0.25 mM to 6 mM, in particular from 0.5 mM to 2 mM.
• Thiocyanates have a certain antimicrobial activity which is, of course, a desired property in the composition of the invention, but more important, thiocyanate is a constituent of human natural saliva and, as explained above, constitutes part of an antibacterial system comprising thiocyanate, hydrogen peroxide, and lactoperoxidase.
• hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate are both present in the composition of the invention, such as is preferred, two components of this system are supplied by the composition.
• the third component of the system lactoperoxidase
• lactoperoxidase is present in any salivary secrection with which the patient may be able to contribute, or can be supplied from, e.g., milk which the patient drinks.
• a system which will generate hydrogen peroxide in situ in the composition for balanced co-operation with the thiocyanate e.g., a system comprising enzymes which, in the mouth, together with polysaccharides from the food generate hydrogen peroxide, such as a combination of amyloglucosidase and glucose- oxidase.
• composition of the invention may also contain fluoride ions, e.g. incorporated as sodium fluoride, in order to obtain a rehardening effect on dental enamel.
• fluoride ions e.g. incorporated as sodium fluoride
• sodium fluoride When sodium fluoride is incorporated in the composition, it is normally incorporated in an amount of, e.g., 0.5-5 ppm, preferably 2 ppm.
• the artificial saliva composition of the invention is preferably made with such a viscosity that the mucine thereof will remain as a protective coating on the surfaces of the mouth for a sufficiently long period.
• the necessary doses of the artificial saliva are relatively small so that the patient can easily carry a small container containing the necessary volume for a period of e.g., one day and night, typically a volume of 25-50 ml, which means that suitable doses should be about 1-2 ml.
• the mucine of the composition should be capable of substantially substituting for the deficient saliva excretion.
• a suitable viscosity to obtain this is a viscosity of between 2 and 30 relative to water, as measured with an Oswald viscosimeter, preferably a viscosity between 4 and 10, in particular between 5 and 8.
• the suitable viscosity of the solution may be obtained by proper selection of the mucine, the pretreatment of the mucine, and the concentration of the mucine. It is within the scope of the invention to include, in the composition, other viscosity-imparting constituents than mucine. For example, one possibility that could be of interest would be to combine the mucine with a carbohydrate which is viscous in aqueous solution, such as carboxymethylcellulose.
• gastric mucine a most desirable mucine for use in the composition is gastric mucine.
• gastric mucine has been found, in practice, to function excellently as the mucine component of artificial saliva compositions.
• Porcine and bovine gastric mucine may be obtained on industrial scale at reasonable cost, and hence provide realistic mucine sources for artificial saliva compositions.
• gastric mucine could be combined with carboxymethylcellulose and/or with other mucines such as bovine salivary mucine.
• compositions containing a combination of gastric mucine and bovine salivary mucine offer important advantages as artificial saliva compositions, such as is explained in greater detail below.
• porcine gastric mucine which is an excellent mucine for the purpose of the present invention, will be dealt with in greater detail, but it will be understood that also other mammalian gastric mucines, in particular bovine gastric mucine, are valuable mucines for the purpose of the invention.
• porcine gastric mucine When porcine gastric mucine is used as the mucine component of the composition, it should be in included in an amount corresponding to 0.2-6% by weight, typically 0.5-6% by weight, calculated on the mucine solution. Normally, the preferred concentration of the porcine gastric mucine is 1-4% by weight, calculated on the solution, but a slightly higher concentration, such as 2-5% by weight, may also be of particular interest.
• Porcine gastric mucine is obtainable as a byproduct in the production of pepsin from hog stomachs.
• porcine gastric mucine When porcine gastric mucine is to be used for the purpose of the present invention, it is suitably prepared in a more pure form. than the one normally produced.
• Such additional purification may be obtained by several alcohol precipitations, such as 2-3 precipitations with 60% ethanol.
• the purification is typically performed to such an extent that the mucine is substantially free of any peptone content.
• the resulting mucine is suitably treated with a preservative and dried, e.g. by spray drying.
• the preservative be a low molecular weight volatile preservative such as hydrogen peroxide, which is suitably added to the mucine-containing solution to a concentration corresponding to about 0.01-to 0.2, suitably about 0.02-0.06, per cent by weight.
• the solution is suitably allowed to stand for a period between an hour and a few hours, typically about two hours, at room temperature.
• Bovine salivary mucine may be obtained, e.g., as described by E. J. 's-Gravenmade et al., lnt. J. Oral Surg., 1974:3, 435-439.
• the mucine-containing solution is preferably sterilized prior to drying, e.g. by adding a preservative.
• the preferred preservative is hydrogen peroxide added in a concentation of 0.02-0.06 per cent by weight.
• the dried mucine preparation in the form of a powder or a granulate having a bacterial count of less than 10 per gram, constitutes, in itself, a valuable composition.
• This composition can be shipped and stored under conditions which will retain its low bacterical count, and can then be reconstituted with water by the end user. Any added consituents as discussed above and in the following detailed description concerning the liquid composition can be included before the drying stage.
• a solid peroxide e.g. in powder form, may be added to ensure a preserved and stable solution when the dried mucine preparation is dissolved in water.
• the artificial saliva composition of the invention is a liquid composition of the concentration in which it is to be applied by the end user.
• a composition of this type containing one type of mucine e.g., porcine gastric mucine, or a combination of two types of mucine
• the dried mucine preparation is dissolved in preferably deionized water to a concentration corresponding to the desired viscosity of the product.
• concentration desirable for a particular mucine preparation is easily found by preliminary experiments.
• the mucine is porcine gastric mucine
• the concentation will normally be in the range of 1-5% as mentioned above, but depending upon whether also other viscosity-building constituents such as carboxymethylcellulose are included, the range may be somewhat broader, e.g.
• the hydrogen peroxide is preferably added in a concentration of typically from about 1 millimol per liter to about 70 millimol per liter, preferably about 10-20 millimol per liter.
• the surface tension of the artifical saliva composition of the invention is preferably in the range of 40-60xlO-'Nm (40-60 dyne.cm).
• a composition containing porcine gastric mucine in a concentration of 3-4% by weight together with ions of the types listed below has been found to have a surface tension of 50-52 dyn.cm, which is close to the surface tension of natural saliva. Furthermore, it has been found that the relationship between the polar and non-polar properties of a composition containing porcine gastric mucine may be adjusted to a less polar value by adding bovine salivary mucine which, at the same time, reduces the surface tension of the composition.
• composition containing 2% of bovine salivary mucine has a surface tension of 44 dyn.cm and shows surprising non-polar properties.
• a composition which contains porcine gastric mucine and bovine salivary mucine in a proportion of 99:1 will show properties very close to natural saliva with respect to surface tension and the relationship between polar and non-polar properties. It has been found that a solution containing 4% of porcine gastric mucine and 0.1% of bovine salivary mucine has a proportion between polar and non-polar components corresponding to about equally pronounced polar and non-polar properties, which has also been found to be the balance prevailing under natural conditions in the mucosa.
• a composition according to the invention preferably comprises a combination of porcine gastric mucine and bovine salivary mucine.
• compositions of the invention which contain a combination of porcine gastric mucine and bovine salivary mucine may vary within wide ranges with respect to the ratio between the two types of mucine.
• the weight ratio between porcine gastric mucine and bovine salivary mucine in the composition may be from 1:1000 to 1000:1, depending on the desired properties of the composition with respect to surface tension, etc., in particular between 30:1 and 200:1, and preferably between 100:5 and 100:0.5 when the composition is an artificial saliva composition, although also the range between 15:3 and 15:1 is reftig for this purpose.
• suitable liquid compositions of the invention may be mentioned the compositions illustrated in the below working exampled, and the following examples (all percentages being by weight): 1) An aqueous solution containing 1.0% of porcine gastric mucine, 0.2% of carboxymethylcellulose, and 0.02% of hydrogen peroxide, 2) an aqueous solution containing 0.5% of bovine salivary mucine, 1.0% of porcine gastric mucine, 0.04% of hydrogen peroxide, and 0.02% of KSCN, 3) an aqueous solution containing 2.0% of bovine gastric mucine, 0.01% of KCI, 0.08% of NaCI, 0.005% of MgC1 2 .6H 2 0, 0.02% of CaC1 2 .6H 2 0, 0.02% of KSCN, 0.035% of K 2 HP0 4 , and 0.03% of H 2 0 2 , 4) an aqueous solution containing 0.3% of bovine salivary mucine, 3.0% of porcine gastric mucine, 0.02% of hydrogen peroxide,
• the solution is filtered to remove any particles remaining, e.g. through a filter having a pore size corresponding to Zeiss K5.
• the resulting solution is clear and "fresh" with a bacterial count below 10 and can be stored for more than 12 months at 4°C in a container from which portions were withdrawn occasionally, such as once a day during a period of 2 months.
• compositions apart from viscosity-building agents such as carboxymethylcellulose, enzymes of types which are present in human saliva, such as amylase, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, etc.
• the enzymes and the hydrogen peroxide should be used in concentrations which are balanced in relation to each other.
• the resulting mucine is a mucine having a relatively high viscosity; when triturated with water, it yields a viscous, opalescent coloured solution. In dry state, the mucine is an almost white powder which is nearly odourless.
• the power typically has the following data:
• This material is subjected to treatment with preservative (H 2 0 2 ) in the following manner:
• the mucine is dissolved as a 10% solution by addition of water at a temperature of about 20-25°C. Per thousand liters of the solution, 1 liter of 30% H 2 0 2 is added, and thereafter, the solution is allowed to stand for 2 hours to destroy bacterical and enzymatic activity and to remove any unpleasant taste from traces of peptones and fat.
• the solution is spray-dried using an inlet air temperature of 220°C and an outlet temperature of 160°C.
• the resulting spray-dried product has a bacterial count of less than 10 per g.
• An alternative drying procedure which is also suitable is freeze-drying or shelf drying.
• the resulting dried product is subject to a viscosity assay by preparing solutions containing 2, 3, 4, etc. per cent by weight and measuring the viscosity of the solutions, using an Oswald viscosimeter. Normally, a 4% by weight solution will have an initial Oswald viscosity between 10 and 20 depending on the mucine used. In the present specific example, a 4% solution in deionized water shows a relative Oswald viscosity between 15 and 20.
• composition may, if desired, be added NaF 2 ppm and/or sorbic acid 0.50 g.
• the resulting solution might be used per seas a saliva substitute, but in order to obtain long-term stability even under conditions where the composition may occasionally be exposed to the surroundings, such as when a small portion thereof is withdrawn, a preservative is added, typically a 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution to a concentation of 0.6 g per liter. Finally, the resulting solution is filtered through a K5 Zeiss filter and is packed in 1 or 1/2 liter bottles with screw caps having a small orifice for withdrawal of portions of the composition into multidose tubes.
• the composition is filled directly into multidose tubes of 25 to 50 ml corresponding to 1 day's consumption, or it may be filled into aerosol containers of, e.g., 30 or 75 ml size.
• the solution of the invention may be incorporated as the liquid into a gum emulsified liquid package of the kind disclosed in U.S. patent 4,233,288, which package may contain up to 50% of the composition.
• the incorporation into the package is performed in analogy with the disclosure of the said U.S. patent.
• other emulsions may be formulated in which the solution of the invention is incorporated as one of the phases.
• Example 1 In the composition of Example 1, the 4.5% of porcine gastric mucine were replaced with a combination of 3% porcine gastric mucine and 0.3% bovine salivary mucine in order to improve surface tension and non-polar properties.
• the combination of the two mucines may not only be of importance from a surface tension point of view, but also because of the fact that the ratio between the contents of the essential components sialic acid and hexosamine can be combined to a particular desired value by suitable combination of the two types of mucine.
• the above-exemplified compositions could be supplied in dry form, with the same relative proportions between the components.
• compositions comprising a non-human mammalian buccal or gastrointestinal mucine for oral administration for other purposes, such as for relieving throat irritation or for acting as a carrier for medicaments to be supplied on mucous membranes in the mouth, including on the tongue, or in the throat.
• the compositions will often be formulated to a somewhat higher viscosity than the viscosities which are preferred when the compositions are used as saliva substitutes.
• compositions of the invention for oral administration of medicaments is especially interesting in connection with medicaments which, by the mucine content of the composition, are carried to, and retained on, the mucous membranes (or even to some extent penetrating into mucous membranes).
• the mucine-containing compositions of the invention possibly with somewhat higher viscosity than discussed above, are used for this purpose, the inherent medicament carrier-capabilities, and the mucines' capability of rendering the medicaments bio-available at mucuous membranes, are utilized. Also the low surface tension of the mucines contribute to enhance the bio-availability of medicaments incorporated in such compsitions.
• mucine-containing compositions of the invention for oral use, for example, compositions for relieving irritations in the throat, or compositions where the mucine is associated with medicaments for treating the mouth or the throat.
• An example of such a medicament for oral administration is an antitussive, e.g., a composition containing 4% of porcine gastric mucine, 0.0007% of ephedrine, 0.0007% of ammonium chloride, and 0.02% of hydrogen peroxide, or a corresponding composition containing morphine.
• compositions for nasal administration to human beings are as compositions for nasal administration to human beings:
• compositions of the invention for use as nasal solutions are suitably composed in substantially the same manner as the oral compositions discussed above, the viscosity of the final composition when packed ready for use typically being of the order of 1-5, relative to water.
• the capability of the solution to properly moisten the nasal mucosa increases with decreasing surface tension of the composition, and hence, the low inherent surface tension of solutions containing mucines is of special value for this application.
• Another valuable property of the composition for this particular purpose is its capability to bind water to avoid dripping noses, e.g. with patients suffering from nasal catarrh.
• compositions of the invention for nasal application may be mentioned an aqueous solution containing 1% of porcine gastric mucine, 0.01 % of hydrogen peroxide, 1% of glycerine, and flavouring agent q.s., e.g., mint oil.
• porcine gastric mucine bovine salivary mucine may be used, e.g., in an amount of 0.3%, or a combination of porcine gastric mucine and bovine salivary mucine may be used, e.g., 0.5% of porcine gastric mucine and 0.2% of bovine salivary mucine.
• compositions of the invention for nasal application are prepared in the same manner as described above for the compositions for oral application, and again, hydrogen peroxide is the preservative and is preferably used in the same concentrations as discussed above.
• composition of the invention is as ophthalmic solution:
• Conventional ophthalmic wetting solutions contain methyl cellulose as viscosity-building agent and polyvinyl alcohol as wetting agent in an isotonic solution containing sodium and potassium chloride.
• the solution is normally preserved with benzalkonium chloride.
• a composition according to the invention that is, an aqueous sterilized and preservative-containing solution of a non-human mammalian mucine selected from the group consisting of buccal and gastrointestinal mucines, is adapted -for use as an ophthalmic wetting solution.
• a composition of the invention is a' solution comprising an isotonic solution of a mucine with hydrogen peroxide incorporated as preservative.
• the mucine should be, e.g., a porcine gastric mucine or a bovine salivary mucine, or a combination thereof. Solutions of bovine salivary mucine which show more non-polar properties than solutions of gastric mucines should be selected for more hydrophobic lens types. In accordance with what has been described above, the mucine in the composition also functions as a viscosity-imparting agent in the ophthalmic solutions of the present invention.
• the composition of the invention when used for this purpose, may be sterilized by adding hydrogen peroxide to an initial concentration of about 100 ppm, which concentration will, already after about one week, have decrease to about 50 ppm and less and must be presumed to be in the range of 50 to 5 ppm at least one year later, still with the surprising preserving effect yielding the sterility which is characteristic of compositions of the invention containing hydrogen peroxide as preservative.
• a typical soaking solution contains an antibacterical agent, but often in a higher concentration than in the wetting solution.
• the typical soaking solution also usually contains a solubilizing agent to loosen any residues attaching to the lens, and distilled water. Normally, the lens is rinsed in cold water after being withdrawn from the soaking solution.
• the above-described type of sterilized, preservative-containing mucine solution which constitutes a suitable ophthalmic wetting solution for a given type of contact lens, also constitutes a suitable soaking solution for the same type of contact lens, due to the unique sterile and sterilizing properties of the composition, and because the mucine in itself has properties which permits it to function as a solubilizing and cleaning agent.
• the system comprising mucine and a concentration of hydrogen peroxide which is sufficiently low to allow the introduction of the composition into contact with the eye epithel, while still being sufficiently high to warrant the sterilizing properties of the system, opens the possibility of establishing a combined ophthalmic solution which combines the properties and functions of both the wetting solution type and the soaking and cleaning type of ophthalmic solution.
• compositions of this type and with viscosities, isotonic properties, and surface tension properties suitably adapted may also be used as solutions for application on the eye for other purposes than in connection with contact lenses.
• compositions of the invention due to the unique properties of the mucines and combinations thereof for the particular purposes stated or for other purposes where a physiologically tolerawe surfactant is desirable, constitute very valuable products, being sterilized and preserved by means of hydrogen peroxide which, as explained above, shows a surprisingly beneficial combination of properties in that it is capable of effectively sterilizing and preserving the compositions when used in such low concentrations that it does not in any way interfere with the use of the compositions for application on even very sensitive human mucous membranes.
• French Patent Specification No. 3.554 M discloses mucine-containing compositions for treatment of human mucous membranes and discloses examples of such compositions for, e.g., treatment of infections in nose or mouth.
• the disclosure of this French specification does not show how one could sterilize and preserve-in a manner which would be physiologically tolerable with respect to the application of the compositions of the pressent invention-a mucine-containing solution so as to endure that the solution will remain stable and bactericial under the conditions which are fulfilled by the compositions of the present invention.

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• 1981
  • 1981-04-27 WO PCT/DK1981/000043 patent/WO1981002977A1/en active IP Right Grant
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